Starting gate



Feb. 2, 1943. N. c. HARRIS r-:rA| 2,309,952

STARTING GATE Filed Nov. 6, 1940 v 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 El 30 70 'Jll 6 Z5Z6 2'5 2'6 Z5 Patented Feb. 2, 1943 STARTING GATE Norman C. Harris andJesse P. Whann, Los Angeles, Calif assignors to Puett ElectricalStarting Gate Corporation, Los Angelcs, Calif., acorporation of CalifomiApplication November 6, 1940, Serial No. 364,502

Claims.

Our invention relates to starting gates, such as are employed at racetracks to give the racing animals an even start at the beginning of therace, and it relates particularly to starting gates having mechanicallatch means for holding the gates in closed position and which isreleasable upon deenergization of magnetic holding means to permit thegates to simultaneously move into open position.

In starting gates it is important that all of the gates simultaneouslyopen. Mechanical means heretofore employed for holding the gates inclosed position have sometimes failed because the latching means isrestrained from immediately unlatching by pressure or friction betweenthe mechanical parts. A single failure of this type is sufiicient todiscredit any such device and obviously would spoil the race in whichthe failure of the starting gate occurred.

It is an object of our invention to provide a starting gate in which apair of gates is employed for closing the forward end of the startingstall,

and in which the pair of gates is held closed by a latch mechanismincluding mechanical parts which interengage, the parts being held ininterengaged position by magnetic means, the latch being operable upondeenergization of the magnetic means to permit pressure of the gateagainst the latch mechanism to disengage the mechanical parts and permitthe gates to open.

It is a still further object of our invention to provide a starting gateof the character generally referred to in the preceding paragraphs inwhich the latch mechanism includes two separate mechanical latch means,one of which may be selectively released, and the other of which may beself-releasing upon the selective releasing of the first mentionedmechanical latch means.

Other objects and advantages of our invention will be brought out duringthe course of the following detailed description of a preferred form ofour invention.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view whichvdiagrammatically illustrates astarting gate incorporating the features of our invention, one pair ofgates being closed, while the other pairs of gates are shown in openposition.

Fig. 2 is a view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan view partly in section illustrating a pairof gates having the holding and released mechanism of our inventionapplied thereto.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view taken as indicated by the line 4-4 of Fig.3.

Fig. 5 is a schematic view showing the manner in which the magneticmeans is connected to a source of electrical energy.

Referring to the drawings in detail, and more particularly to Figs. 1and 2, in accordance with the usual practice our starting gate includesan overhead frame structure ll having depending frames I2 at each endwhich are supported by suitable trucks l4 whereby the starting gate maybe moved on and from the track. Depending from the overhead structure IIare partitions 15 which cooperate to provide starting stalls IS. Thestructure thus far described may be of any well known design as may becommonly employed in the racing art, and the various partitions aresuitably upholstered so that the horse will not be injured.

In the preferred form of our invention each starting stall I5 isprovided with a pair of gates or closures l8 and I9 which are pivotallysupported by brackets 20 mounted on the partitions l5. When the gatesare in closed position, as

illustrated in the right-hand stall of Figs. 1 and 2 and as illustratedin Fig. 3, the gates extend forwardly and toward each other so that theyoccupy the angular relation shown in Figs. 2 and 3 and so that the freeends 2| thereof are adjacent each other. For the purpose ofautomatically swinging the gates from closed to open position when thelatch means is released, any suitable structure may be provided, such asan elastic member 22 connected to a lever 23 of each gate. Thisstructure is fragmentarily illustrated in Fig. 3, and is more fullyillustrated in the Puett et al.

Patent Number 2,232,675, granted February 1a,

1941. It should be understood that any type of means for urging thegates into open position may be employed. The gates I8 and H! are eachpreferably composed of pieces of tubes, preferably welded (or bolted) toeach other to form an integral structure. Figure 4 shows one of thesepieces of tubing as being in slanting relation with respect to anotherpiece of tubing on each gate, in order to make these gates strong,integral structures which are not likely to become broken or bent out oftheir proper alignment with their supporting structures or with eachother.

The latch means of our invention-includes a latch element 25 secured tothe gate l9 and extending therefrom in a plane substantially parallel tothe plane of the gate. Supported by the gate I8 is a latch lever 26which is pivotally supported by a pivot 21 and has a depending lug 28adapted for interengagement with the end of the latch element 25. Thelatch lever 26 also has a horizontal portion which constitutes anarmature 29. Mounted on the same gate as the latch lever 26 is amagnetic means in the form of an electromagnet 30 which, when energized,attracts the armature 29 and will hold the latch lever 26 in latchingposition as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. As shown in Fig. 5, the magnets 30are connected in parallel in an electrical circuit 32 so as to beenergized by a battery 33 when a manually operable switch 34 is closed.In order to vary the strength of the magnetic field and thus vary theforce with which the latch lever is held in latching position, theelectrical circuit 32 may have a variable rheostat 35. By opening theswitch 34 the magnets 30 are deenergized, and the latch lever 26 maythen swing from the position shown in full lines in Fig. 4 intounlatched or released position as indicated by dotted lines 36 of Fig.4.

It will be noted that the latch means just described is eiiective inpreventing the gate l9 from moving outwardly from the gate 3 in adirection indicated by the arrow 38, but in this particular form of ourinvention this latch means just described is not effective in preventingthe gate I8 from moving away from the gate I9 in a direction indicatedby the arrow 39. We therefore provide a second latch means whichprevents movement of the gate l8 from the gate IS in the direction ofthe arrow 39. This second latch means includes a latch lug 4| whichprojects forwardly from the gate l8. Formed on the gate I9 or a partassociated therewith, such, for example, as the latch element 25, is agroove 42 into which the latch lug 4| extends when the parts arepositioned as shown in Fig. 3. It will be seen that interengagementbetween shoulders formed by the latch lug 4| and by the walls of thegroove 42 prevent the gate l8 from moving away from the gate l9 in thedirection of the arrow 39. Itwill further be seen that the latch lug 4|is retained in the groove 42 as long as the latch lever 26 is inlatching position.

In the operation of our invention the gates are manually swung into thepositions shown in Figs. 3 and 4. The latch lever 26 at this time may bein unlatched position, as shown by dotted lines 36. When the partshavebeen moved into the positions as shown in Fig. 3 the latch lever 26 maybe swung into its full line position shown in Fig. 4, and, the switch 34being closed, the magnet 30 will attract the' armature 29 and thusretain the latch lever 26 in this position. The operator of the gate maygo from one stall to the other successively closing the gates. Aftereach gate is closed and the racing animals are in their respectivestalls l6 and the starter is ready to start the race, he opens theswitch 34 which deenergizes all of the magnets 30 and thus releases allof the latch levers 26. The weight of the latch lever 26 may be suchthat it tends to swing into unlatched position, as indicated by dottedlines 36, but in addition to this the pressure of the latch elementagainst the lug 28 is in a direction tending to swing the latch leverinto unlatched position. Therefore, when the magnets 30 are released themechanical latch associated therewith is substantially simultaneouslyreleased therewith, and the gate I9 is free to swing toward openposition relative to the gate H3 in the direction indicated by the arrow38. Upon but very slight movement of the gate l9, as stated, the lug 4|is disengaged from the groove 42 and the gate I8 is thereupon free tomove toward open position away from the gate l9, as indicated by thearrow 39. All of the action just described takes place substantiallyinstantaneously, and the two gates l8 and IQ of each stall aresimultaneously and almost instantly moved from closed position into openposition by the operation of the gate opening means, such as illustratedat 22 and 23 in Fig. 3.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that our inventionincludes all of the advantages of a mechanical latch but eliminatesabsolutely any possibility of binding action due to the fact that thereare no parts which are subjected to pressure or friction which could inany way interfere with the free movement of the latch element 26 fromlatching position to unlatching position. The coengagement between thelatch element 25 and the lug 28 produces a pressure against the latchlever 26 which will assist in its opening and, in fact, cause itsinstantaneous opening upon deenergization of the magnet. The other latchmeans which includes the parts 4| and 42 is automatically released uponinitial outward movement of the gate l9.

In the foregoing description we have disclosed a preferred form of ourinvention. It should be understood, however, that various alterationsand modifications may be made without departing from the spirit andscope of our invention. We wish our invention to be construed inaccordance with the preceding statement of invention and appendedclaims. For'instance, it is within the scope of this invention to mountthe magnet and latch lever in any position on the starting gate wherethe lever may engage the latch element of each pair of gates.

We claim as our invention:

1. In a race starting gate, the combination of: a pair of gatespivotally supported at the forward part of said starting gate, saidgates bein swingable from closed position in which said gates areangularly positioned with respect to each other and with their outerends adjacent each other to an open position in which said gates are insubstantial parallelism; latch means for latching said gates in closedposition including a first latch for preventing one gate from movingrelative to the other, a second latch for preventing the other gate frommoving relative to the first gate, and means for selectively releasingsaid first latch which permits said first mentioned gate to moverelative to the second mentioned gate, whereupon said second latch isautomatically released; and means for moving said gates into openposition.

2. In a race starting gate, the combination of a pair of gates pivotallysupported at the forward part of said starting gate, said gates beingswingable from closed position in which said gates are angularlypositioned with respect to each other and with their outer ends adjacenteach other to an open position in which said gates are in substantialparallelism; latch means for latching said gates in closed positionincluding a first latch for preventing one gate from moving relative tothe other, said first named latch including a latch element on one gateand a latch lever on the other gate engageable with said latch elementbut movable to release said latch element, and magnetic means on thesame gate as said latch lever for holding said latch lever in engage-.ment with said latch element, a second latch for preventing the othergate from moving relative to the first gate, and means for deenergizingsaid magnetic means to allow said latch lever to release said latchelement, thus releasing said first latch which permits said firstmentioned gate to move relative to the second mentioned gate,

whereupon said second latch is automatically released; and means formoving said gates into open position.

3. In a race starting gate, the combination of: a pair of gatespivotally supported at the forward part of said starting gate, saidgates being swingable from closed position in which said gates areangularly positioned with respect to each other and with their outerends adjacent each other to an open position in which said gates are insubstantial parallelism; latch means for .latching said gates in closedposition including a first latch for preventing one gate from movingrelative to the other said first named latch'including a latch elementon one gate and a latch lever pivotally mounted on the other gate andhaving a lug engageable with said latch element and also having anarmature, said latch lever being movable to release said latch element,and magnetic means on the same door as said latch lever for magneticallyattracting said armature for holding said latch lever in engagement withsaid latch element, a second latch for preventing the other gate frommoving relative to the first gate, and means for deenergizing saidmagnetic means to allow' said latch lever to release said latch element,thus releasing said first latch which permits said first mentioned gateto move relative to the second mentioned gate, whereupon said secondlatch is automatically released; and means for moving said gates intoopen position.

4. In a'race starting gate, the combination of:

V a pair of gates pivotally supported at the forward part fo saidstarting gate, said gates being swingable from closed position in whichsaid gates are angularly positioned with respect to each other and withtheir outer ends adjacent each other to an open position in which saidgates are in substantial parallelism; latch means for releasablylatching said gates in closed position, said latch means including alatch element on one gate, a latch lever on the other gate engageablewith said latch element but movable to release said latch element,magnetic means on the same gate as said latch lever for holding saidlatch lever in-engagement with said latch element, and means, fordeenergizing said magnetic means to allow said latch lever to releasesaid latch element for permitting said gates to open; and means formoving said gates into open position. I

5. In a race starting gate, the combination of: a pair of gatespivotally supported at the forward part of said starting gate, saidgates .being swingable from closed position in which said gates areangularly positioned with respect to each other and with their outerends adjacent each other to an open position in which said gates are insubstantial parallelism; latch means for releasably latching said gatesin closed position, said latch means including a latch element on onegate, a latch lever pivotally mounted on the other gate and having a lugengageable with said latch element and also having an armature, saidlatch lever being movable to release said latch element, magnetic meanson the same gate as said latch lever for magnetically attracting saidarmature for holding said latch lever in engagement with said latchelement, and means for deenergizing said magnetic means to allow saidlatch lever to release said latch element for permitting said gates toopen; and means for moving said gates into open position.

6. In a race starting gate, the combination of: a pair of closurespivotally mounted on said gate, said closures being swingable fromclosed position in which the closures are angularly positioned withrespect to each other and with their outer ends adjacent, to an openposition where their outer ends are separated from each other,

latch means for releasably latching said pair of closures in closedposition, said latch means including a latch element on one closure anda latch lever pivotally mounted on the other closure said latch leverbeing constructed and arranged to move to its disengaged position bygravity when released, magnetic means mounted on the last mentionedclosure for holding when energized said latch lever in engagement with Ia pair of closures pivotally mounted on said gate,

said closures being swingable from closed posi tion in which theclosures are angularly positioned with respect to each other and withtheir outer ends adjacent, to an open position where their outer endsare separated from each other, latch means for releasably latching saidpair of closures in closed position, said latch means including a latchelement on one closure and a latch lever, means pivotally mounting saidlever on the other closure, said lever pivot supporting said lever inoverbalanced position whereby said lever is biased by gravity to openposition, magnetic means mounted on said last mentioned closure forholding when energized said lever in closed position and in engagementwith said latch element, means for energizing said magnet meansincluding an electric circuit, and means for breaking said circuitwhereby said magnet means becomes energized to allow said latch lever tomove to open position by gravity and to release said latch element tothereby permit said' pair of closures to open, and means for movingsaidpair of closures to open position when released by said latch levers.

8. In a race starting gate, the combination of: a pair of closurespivotally mounted on said gate, said closures being swingable fromclosed position in which the closures are angularly positioned withrespect to each other and with their outer ends adjacent, to an openposition where their outer ends are separated from each other. latchmeans for releasably latching said pair of closures in closed position,said latch means including a latch element on one closure and a latchlever pivotally mounted on the other closure, said latch lever beingconstructed and arranged to move to its disengaged position by gravitywhen released, magnetic means mounted on the last mentioned closure forholding when energized, said latch lever in engagement with said latchelement, means for energizing said magnetmeans including an electriccircuit, and means for breaking said circuit, whereby said magnet meansbecomes deenergized to allow said latch lever to drop by gravity and torelease said latch element to thereby permit said pair of closures toopen, and a second latch means ineluding a rigidlymounted part on one ofsaid closures and engaging said other closure when said pair of closuresare angularly positioned with respect to each other.

9. In combination, a pair of closures, means pivotally mounting saidclosures on a support, the closures being angularly positioned withrespect to each other when in closed position, said pair of closureshaving a weightedlatch pivoted on one closure and being heavier on oneside of the pivot than on the other side and thereby biased to releasedposition by gravity, a latch,

element on the other closure adapted to be engaged by said weightedlatch when the closures are in angular position with respect to eachother, magnet means for said pair of closures for retaining whenenergized, said weighted lever in engagement with said latch element,means for'energlzing said magnet means including an electric circuit,and means for breaking said circuit to de-energize said magnet means tothereby permit said weighted latch to move by gravity and release saidlatch element and said pair of closures.

10. In a race/ starting gate, the combination of: a pair of closurespivotally mounted on said gate, said closures being swingable fromclosed position in which the closures are angularly positioned withrespect to each other and with their outer ends adjacent to an openposition where their outer ends are separated from each other, latchmeans and magnet means for said pair of closures, said latch meansincluding a latch lever and a latch element, said latch lever beingconstructed and arranged to move to its disengaged position by gravitywhen released, said latch element being mounted on one closure and saidlatch lever being adapted to engage said latch element when said pair ofclosures is in converged position vand when said magnet means isenergized, means for energizing said magnet means including a source ofelectrical energy and an electric circuit, means for breaking saidcircuit to de-energize said magnet means to allow said latch levers todrop and to lever.

NORMAN C. HARRIS. JESSE P. WHANN.

